Tiger Beer launches awards scheme to celebrate Asian film

Launched in recognition of the spiralling interest in Asian film in the UK, 'The Tigers' is a new award scheme organised by Tiger Beer.
Many Asian films have recently become box office hits, such as 'House of Flying Daggers', 'Bride and Prejudice' and 'The Ring', and last year saw a six-fold increase in revenue for Asian films in the UK.
The Award scheme was created by Tiger Beer to realise the growing popularity in this genre and to make people more aware of the versatile films Asia has to offer – it’s not all about blood and gore as many presume. Recent hits to come out of Asia that are billed to receive Awards include '2046', 'Oldboy' and 'The Grudge'.
The Awards are open to any film produced with Asian funding, filmed in Asia or featuring predominantly Asian talent.
Presenter of Radio 4’s Back Row, Joe Cornish, commented: “Even the slowest film fans are now starting to realise that Hollywood has lost it, and Asian cinema has most definitely found it. While the US studios squander millions publicising identikit crowd pleasers, Asian films are slowly and surely winning people's devotion with levels of diversity, originality and imagination that mainstream cinema has long forgotten.
“If you want to see genuinely brilliant filmmaking championed, or find out about films that could reinvigorate your love for cinema, The Tigers are the awards to watch.”
Laura De Casto, Managing Director of Tartan Films, added: “Film of Asian origin is enjoying an unprecedented growth in popularity in the UK, seeing cinema admissions grow dramatically. We are proud to have introduced a whole new range of exciting and provocative films to the UK and pioneered the growth of this market internationally.”
Winners of The Tigers will be awarded in April 2005 and will include all films released in the UK between February 2004 and February 2005 - The Chinese Lunar Year.
The Awards will be voted for by a panel made up of industry experts and Asian talent to include; Joe Cornish (Back Row, Adam & Joe Show), Burt Kwouk (Pink Panther), Saeed Jaffery (Ghandi, My Beautiful Launderette), Pooja Shah (Bend it Like Beckham) Derek Elley ( Variety Magazine) and Tim Kash (MTV, TOTP).
With a strong heritage in Asian culture, Tiger Beer is keen to see Asian films receive the credit they’re due through the Awards. Tiger Beer already sponsors the UK Asian Extreme Film Festival and has plans for some innovative Asian film screenings in the summer.
(GB)